Hot Rods (oval racing)

Hot Rods or simply Rods refer to a number of British oval racing formula (not to be confused with hot rods, which are generally road-going modified vintage cars). Hot Rods were introduced at Hednesford Hills Raceway in the early 1960s as a British counterpart to NASCAR-style production car racing. The term 'stock car' was not adopted because it was already in use for a form of oval racing in Britain that had evolved in a very different way than American stock cars. In south west England, hot rod racing evolved from a class known as sports and production car racing, introduced at tracks such as Plymouth and St Austell in the 1950s. Hot Rod racing rules vary depending on promoters, of which there are many, but almost all are based on European or Japanese hot hatches and race on tarmac 1/4 mile ovals with deliberate contact banned, although accidents are common due to the large number of cars within a tight environment. The fastest and most expensive Rod formula are the National Hot Rods (not to be confused with the National Hot Rod Association) which utilise tube chassis, kevlar bodies and highly tuned 2 litre straight-4 engines. Hot Rod formulas also race in Ireland, continental Europe and South Africa. They have similarities with some of the more sophisticated mini-stock divisions in the USA. The World Championship for the National Hot Rods is staged at Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich in the first weekend of July each year. The 2 Litre Hot Rods are the next class down; their World Championship is held at various tracks in England, every third year at the Nutts Corner track in Northern Ireland.

World Championship

First raced at Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich in 1972 where the championship has remained ever since. The title befitted the event for much of its early life as drivers from across the globe were invited to take part. Later years have seen the event take on a more domestic look although it includes some European and occasional South African representation.

    Year Venue Winner Car Model
    2015 Ipswich Republic of Ireland 970 Shane Murphy Vauxhall Tigra A
    2014 Ipswich England 115 Chris Haird Vauxhall Tigra B
    2013 Ipswich Northern Ireland 962 John Christie Vauxhall Tigra A
    2012 Ipswich Northern Ireland 9 Glenn Bell Vauxhall Tigra A
    2011 Ipswich England 911 Malcolm Blackman Peugeot 206 CC
    2010 Ipswich England 115 Chris Haird Vauxhall Tigra B
    2009 Ipswich England 41 Carl Boardley Vauxhall Tigra A
    2008 Ipswich England 41 Carl Boardley Vauxhall Tigra A
    2007 Ipswich England 41 Carl Boardley Vauxhall Tigra A
    2006 Ipswich England 41 Carl Boardley Vauxhall Tigra A
    2005 Ipswich Northern Ireland 994 Keith Martin Peugeot 206
    2004 Ipswich England 911 Malcolm Blackman Peugeot 206
    2003 Ipswich England 230 Dave Longhurst Mitsubishi Colt
    2002 Ipswich Northern Ireland 942 Davy McCall Peugeot 206
    2001 Ipswich England 175 John Steward Vauxhall Corsa B
    2000 Ipswich England 718 Colin White Volkswagen Corrado
    1999 Ipswich England 718 Colin White Volkswagen Corrado
    1998 Ipswich England 718 Colin White Ford Fiesta mk3
    1997 Ipswich Northern Ireland 962 Ormond Christie Ford Fiesta mk3
    1996 Ipswich Northern Ireland 962 Ormond Christie Ford Fiesta mk3
    1995 Ipswich England 96 Ian McKellar Peugeot 205
    1994 Ipswich England 639 Ricky Hunn Peugeot 205
    1993 Ipswich Northern Ireland 950 Norman Woolsey Peugeot 205
    1992 Ipswich England 63 Phil White Vauxhall Nova
    1991 Ipswich England 413 Roger Peck Toyota Starlet
    1990 Ipswich Northern Ireland 942 Davy McCall Peugeot 205
    1989 Ipswich Northern Ireland 950 Norman Woolsey Peugeot 205
    1988 Ipswich England 63 Phil White Toyota Starlet
    1987 Ipswich England 306 George Polley Toyota Starlet
    1986 Ipswich Northern Ireland 950 Norman Woolsey Toyota Starlet
    1985 Ipswich Northern Ireland 962 Ormond Christie Toyota Starlet
    1984 Ipswich England 88 Peter Grimer Toyota Starlet
    1983 Ipswich Northern Ireland 962 Ormond Christie Toyota Starlet
    1982 Ipswich Northern Ireland 932 Davy Evans Vauxhall Chevette
    1981 Ipswich Northern Ireland 962 Ormond Christie Toyota Starlet
    1980 Ipswich England 19 Mick Collard Ford Escort mk2
    1979 Ipswich England 356 Gordon Bland Ford Escort mk2
    1978 Ipswich England 351 Barry Lee Ford Escort mk2
    1977 Ipswich England 351 Barry Lee Ford Escort mk2
    1976 Ipswich England 306 George Polley Ford Anglia
    1975 Ipswich England 304 Derek Fiske Ford Escort mk1
    1974 Ipswich England 351 Barry Lee Ford Escort mk1
    1973 Ipswich England 351 Barry Lee Ford Escort mk1
    1972 Ipswich England 108 Bob Howe Ford Escort mk1

    Numbering System

    As the sport developed across the country in the 1970s there was some confusion as drivers from different regions and promoters found themselves racing with the same numbers. The National Hot Rod Promoters Association (NHRPA) decided to introduce a national numbering system to help stop confusion, this format was used up until 1989.

    See also

    External links

    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, April 17, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.